The trial begins, and everyone is present, including Mercer, Thomas, Gifford, and Bruce. Steven represents Lovely, while Monty Martin is the trial lawyer for Tidal Breeze, and Evan Killebrew, an assistant Attorney General, represents the state of Florida. Lovely waits in “glorious splendor.” Judge Burch introduces the case and notes that there is no jury according to Florida law for title cases. Steven starts the opening remarks, saying that representing Lovely is the highlight of his career. He describes Dark Isle’s history and argues that it belongs to Lovely, the last descendant of its self-emancipated inhabitants. Killebrew claims that Dark Isle is an abandoned island and that the law ordains it as belonging to the state of Florida. He emphasizes the lack of legal proof of Lovely’s ownership, noting that she left Dark Isle many years ago. Monty argues that no proof exists that Lovely ever lived on Dark Isle and that her book is like a novel and has a “fictional ring to it” (240). He reiterates that the island belongs to the state. Finally, Steven calls Lovely as the first witness.

Lovely tells her story and talks about the harsh life on Dark Isle, responding to Steven’s questions.